Rev. Robert Townsend Crawley

It is with regret that we have to record the death of the beloved and respected Rector of North Ockendon, and Rural Den of Chalford, the Rev. R. T. Crawley, which occurred on Saturday evening. The deceased had been in failing health for some time, but was able to get out up till the previous Thursday, when he was taken suddenly ill with another seizure, and gradually got worse until his death, which took place in the presence of all his children. A gloom is cast over the parish by the loss it has thus sustained. 

The Rev. Robert Townsend Crawley, M.A was born on the 13th of February, 1832, a son of Mr. George Abraham Crawley, of Fitzroy Farm, Highgate, and Caroline, his wife. He was educated at Eton and Christchurch, Oxford, and was ordained a priest in the year 1856 by the Bishop of Bath and Wells. Shortly afterwards he married Louisa Marianne, eldest daughter of the late Rev. James Charles Clutterbuck, vicar of Long Wittenham, in Berkshire. She pre-deceased him by about two years. His first curacy was Huntahill, in Somersetshire; in 1857 he became curate to the Rev. John Bramston, then Vicar of Wittenham; and later to the Rev. Sir John Page Wood (father of Sir Evelyn Wood), vicar of Cressing, whom he eventually succeeded as vicar. In 1869 he became rector of North Ockendon, on the presentation of the late Mr. Richard Benyon. He assisted in the formation of the St. Albans' Diocesan Institution for Trained Nurses, and for many years (from its inception) was its secretary and treasurer. He was also for a long time a Diocesan Inspector of schools and an active member (as representing his parish) on the Board of Guardians for the Orsett Union or district, and it was a journey, on a cold day in January, 1901, to attend this Board, that brought on the illness from which he eventually died. Beyond his undoubted earnestness in the discharge of his duties as a parish priest, his tender-heartedness, the very practical turn of his mind, his manliness, and his readiness to help by sound advice endeared him, still further, to his parishioners, who always looked up to him as "the good rector." 

Thus one brother clergyman writes of him: "What he has been to me and mine, all these years, cannot be put down on paper - friend - counsellor - support." And another: "He was indeed a brother to me, and most kind to us and to all, and a truly faithful diligent parish priest, and ready, loving, patient, helper." 

Mr. Crawley was devoted to his work. He was a great friend to the poor, and for many years was vice-chairman of the Board of Guardians. In this capacity he was endeared alike to the hearts of officers and inmates of the Union-house. Indeed, he was known as the "Inmates Friend." The fact that, with all his goodness, he was so very human made him loved all the more. There was an entire absence of ostentation about him - indeed, in his own houses, the way he would often sit silent while others were talking made some people, especially young men, a little afraid of him. No man's family motto fitted him better - Esse quam videri. 

To those who knew him and loved him best, the gradual failure of his mind, which followed his attack of illness in 1901, was particularly distressing. In views he was a Moderate Churchman, and, during his incumbency, his parish church was beautified and the services in it improved and brightened. 

There was a striking demonstration of love and esteem at the funeral on Wednesday. There was a very numerous assembly of all classes, and the service was impressively conducted by the Rev F.C.Clutterbuck and the Rev. H.H. Ingram. The chief mourners were the children, Mr. R.F. Crawley, Mr. C. H. Crawley, Mr. J. H. Crawley, Miss Crawley, Mrs. Ingall, and Miss C. B. Crawley: Miss Edith Crawley and Miss Wilhelmina Crawley, sisters; the Rev. C.D. Crawley, brother: Admiral W.R. Clutterbuck, General T. Lowndes, the Rev. Canon Jelf, the Rev. H. M. Ingram, and the Rev. F. C. Clutterbuck, brothers-in-law; Mr. C. F. Ingram, the Rev. H. H. Ingram. Mrs. E. C. Powell, the Countess of Cavan, Mr. G. A. Crawley, Mr. H. E. Crawley, Mr. J. K. Crawley, the Rev. A. S. Crawley, Mr. G. Robinson, Mrs. C. C. Robinson, and Mrs. G. B. Jelf, nephews and nieces.

The clergy present included the Revds. Canon Fraser (South Weald), W. Spencer (Aveley), H. Dale (Hornchurch), H. H. Holden (Upminster), A. H Tredennick (Christ Church, Great Warley), J. F. Tarleton (Great Warley), H. Whitcomb (Romford), W. J. Benson (Dunton), R. V. G. Shaw (Langleybury), and Piers Claughton (Hutton) There were also present the Earl of Cavan, Admiral J. E. Pringle, Mr. C. B. Russell, Mr. F. W. Ingall, Captain G. Swinton, Mr. W. Beech, Mr. G. Seton de Winton, Colonel Whittington, C.B., Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt Slade, Mr. E. Powell, Mrs. B. G. Laard, Miss E. Luard, Captain F.B. Luard, Mr. J. H. Mathews, Mr. F. S. Hawkes, Mr. A. Clarke, Mr. W. S. Eve, Mr. J. Eve, Mr. and Mrs. C. Sturgeon, and Mr. R Todd. The bearers were: Messrs. D. Brede, H. Cressey, H Coe, D. Paveley, A. Baldwin, and R. Polley. 

The patron of the living of North Ockendon is Mr. J. H. Benyon, and the Essex Almanac gives the annual value at £290.